Profitability and constraints to urban exotic vegetable production systems in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana: a recipe for job creation

Abstract

Some vegetable producers perceive their venture to be unprofitable owing to cheating at the farm gate. This study sought to determine profitability of production of exotic vegetables which are not native of Ghana. The study used data collected from 80 urban exotic vegetable farmers. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, multiple linear regression, and the Garrett ranking scale were the methods of analysis. The most profitable system from the results of the net margin ratio was the production of lettuce as a sole crop with net margin ratio of 71% which explains the popularity of lettuce among exotic vegetable producers in the metropolis. Household size, experience, and access to credit positively affected profitability while farm size as well as costs of labor and fertilizer had negative effects. Farmers ranked high input cost, land tenure insecurity, and high cost of irrigation as challenges to urban exotic vegetable production. We recommend that urban exotic vegetable production should be considered as a source of employment. Government and financial institutions should improve farmer access to credit to enable them to hire adequate labor and acquire technologies and production inputs.

Effects of vegetable production on income and livelihood of rural households in Nigeria

“…The high prices accruing to agricultural inputs (whereas capital available for the production process by farmers is quite small) constitutes a serious barrier to increasing production. This is in line with the findings of Manu et al (2019) and Wongnaa et al (2019) that high cost of input severely affected vegetable farmers in their production activities.…”

“…This resulted in poor pricing and a reduction in their income. Wongnaa et al (2019) reported a similar finding that postharvest loss severely affected exotic vegetable production.…”

Rice planting technologies and farm performance under different production systems in Ghana

“…Our results is consistent with Adams et al (2020) and Haruna et al (2012), who found profitability ratios of less than 1 for tomato producers in Ghana and Nigeria, respectively. Darko-Koomson et al (2020) and Wongnaa et al (2019) reported higher profitability associated with cassava and vegetable production in Ghana, respectively.…”

Profitability and choice of marketing outlets: evidence from Ghana's tomato production

“…Overall, the operating ratio of 0.97 suggests tomato farming as a profitable enterprise to embark on. Not just tomato production; it also depicts profitability of Ghana's agricultural production in general (Wongnaa and Awunyo-Vitor, 2013; Wongnaa et al , 2019a, 2019b; Darko-Koomson et al , 2020).…”